Edwaed e



(No Model.)

B. R. DODGE. Folding-Keel for Vessels.

Patented June 8,1880.

EDWARD R. DODGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING KEEL FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,450, dated June 8, 1880.

Application filed March 24, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. DODGE, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented an Improved Folding Keel for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved extension-keel, which is more especially designed as a substitute for center-boards in vessels.

The invention consists of a keel formed of a number of overlapping horizontal plates connected to a series of hangers that are pivoted to the bottom of the vessel, and in other details of invention hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a vessel provided with my improved keel opened. Fig. 2 represents the same with the keel folded. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the keel. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 1, taken on line as w,- and Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the keel on an enlarged scale, showing the manner of pivoting or hanging it to the bottom of the vessel.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the vessel, and B the folding keel, which is composed of a number of overlapping horizontal plates, a, pivoted to hangers 1) between their ends, and at the bow end preferably placed within and pivoted to a hollow hanger, d, and at the stern end pivoted between double hangers e 0. By inclosing the ends of the plates in the hollow hanger (1 they are held more rigid in the direction of their length, and guarded against injurious contactwith obstructions sea-weed and the like.

In arranging the plates on the hangers it is preferred to lap them over each other at the edges, so that they will fold one against the other in the same order, and leave but the width of one plate projecting down from the bottom of the vessel when the keel is extended. The hangers I) d and c c are pivoted at their upper ends to a plate or plates, (1, attached to the bottom of the vessel.

The hangers and plates swing freely on their pivotal connections with the bottom of the vessel, and by drawing the keel endwise the plates fold up, the several plates folding side to side in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To fold and unfold the keel from the inside of the vesselI attach a chain, D, or other suitable lifting device to one end of the keel, and carry the said device into the vessel.

(No model.)

when in shallow water or in the presence of obstructions the keel can be readily adjusted to the depth of water; but if the keel should strike unexpectedly on an obstruction or on the bottom the bow end of the keel, on striking, will slide over it readily and throw the keel upward, so that it will pass over the obstruction without trouble; and in case the obstruction is a soft bottom or bank, its freedom of movement will prevent it from becoming embedded therein. I

The plates of which the keel is composed, instead of being pivoted to hangers, may be hinged together edge to edge, like an extensible fan, and fold up vertically against tlie bottom, to which they may be hung in any convenient orsuitable manner or a part of the plates of the keel may be hinged together, and part pivoted to hangers suspended from the lower hinged plate.

The plates are provided with notches f, into which the pivots that attach the plates to the hangers enter when the keel is folded. A closer folding of the plates is thereby permitted.

I claim- 1. The combination, in. a vessel, of the fixed projecting keel. O with the outer upright hangers, d e, which are pivoted to the vessel, and with a series of overlapping plates, a a, the ends of which are pivoted to both said hangers, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, in a vessel, of the outer upright pivoted hangers, d e, and one or more intermediate upright hangers, I), with a series of overlapping plates, to a, which are pivoted to each of said hangers, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a folding keel composed of series of pivoted hangers, d c I), and a series of folding plates, at a, the bow-hanger cl, made hollow to contain and protect the front end of said plates a, substantially as herein shown and described.

This specification signed by me this 20th day of March, 1880.

EDWARD R. DODGE.

Witnesses WILTON 0. DONN, WILLY G. E. SCHULTZ. 

